Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users
The British Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1999 David Semple, Klaus P. Ebmeier, Michael F. Glabus et al. 281 citations
Regular use of MDMA ('ecstasy') is associated with reduced binding of the serotonin transporter in the cortex, especially in the primary sensory-motor cortex, while dopamine transporter binding in the lenticular nuclei remains normal. This suggests that MDMA may cause specific, at least temporary, damage to serotonin-producing neurons in humans, which could contribute to psychiatric problems. The study compared ten male regular ecstasy users with ten well-matched controls using SPECT imaging with a serotonin transporter ligand.